Improvement in grain-separator



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. K. MILLER.

Grain Separator.

Patented July 13, 1869.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. K. MILLER.

Grain Separator.

Patented July-13, 1869.

c ear $211125 WILL-1AM MILLER, OF CANTON,'OH10.

Letters Patent N 0. 92,629, dated J uly 13, 1869.

IMPROVEMENT IN GRAIN-SEPARATOR.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM K. MILLER, of Oanton, in the county of Stark, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grain-Separators; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the separator, taken from the side and rear thereof, and

Figure 2 represents a perspective view thereof, taken from the side and front of the machine.

Figure 3' represents a vertical, longitudinal, central section through the machine.

Figure 4 represents a perspective, and

Figure 5, a section through the wrist-wheel, crank, or shaker, for shaking the shoe of the separator.

Similar letters of reference, where they occur, (1enote like parts of the machine in all of the figures.

My invention relates, first, to the arrangement and location of a secondary fan-blower, so that the blast therefrom shall strike the grain, 8250., as it falls from the grain-board, under the straw-carrier, to the shoe or riddle, and chad, or partially clean the grain, before it arrives or drops on the riddles; to the combination of a horizontally-vibrating shoe, with a vertically-reciprocating shoe-rake, working and moving with it.

My invention further consists in combining with the vibrating shoe and slioea-ake a revolving shoe-rake, that operates in connection with them; and

My invention further consists in the construction of a self-oiling crank or wrist-pin, that works with the shaker, for shaking the shoe, or for moving the tailspout, one or both. i

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the same with reference to the drawings.

A represents the frame of the separator, within which an endless slatted straw-carrier, B, is caused to travel by any first-moving power, applied-to one of the rollers over or around which it moves.

The bottom, belt, or apron of the straw-carrier may and be made of canvas or other suitablyflexible material,

and the slats are so connected with it as to form a series of cells, for receiving and carrying up the grain, and such other light material as.is mixed with it, to the point where it is to be subjected to the separatingprocess, by blasts or currents of air, sieves, riddles, &c.

At or about the centre, in length, of the endless belt of cells, there is arranged a revolving strawshaker, a, for. shaking up the straw, to cause it to drop such grain as may be in it. p

The straw passes off over the upper endof the carrier, and may be taken to any suitable location, by means \\-'ell kno vn, while the grain, and light material mixed with it, is dropped from the cells, as they pass around the upper roller, on to an inclined board, I), by which they are brought within the infiue cc of tho fan-blasts and other separating-dcvices.

The small fan 0 revolves in the direction of the red arrow, and its blast is forced out through the opening or throat (I, so as to strike the grain, about n 1id-' way in its descent from the board I) to the shoe-board c, where it strikes previous to being directed into the shoe 0, and where fingers f are placed, to catch any straw that may have fallen with the grain, and by shaking the straw, shake out such grains, if any, as may cling to it, and prevent the straw from getting on to and clogging up the riddle g at that point.

The first separation begins by the blast from the smallfan, c, which carries oif much of the gross ma-,

terial mixedwith the grain, and then the partiallyscparated and cleaned grain falls upon the riddle or screen g, which is shaken with the shoe; but before reaching the riddle, the falling grain, &c., is subjected to a second blast from the large fan D, which separates from it, and carries off what impurities the lesser fan may not have taken off and carried out.

The cleaned grain, which drops through the riddle g, and such other light material as may have passed through the riddle with it, are subjected to a second current from the large fan, and to another separatingopen tion, while the clean grain dropsnpon the board E, and, rolling down upon said board, such grains as may not have weight and velocity enough to pass the opening h, in said inclined board, drop through said opening, and into the receptacle F, while the heavier grains, by their greater velocity, jump said opening, and drop into the receptacle G,

The tailings or such light material as may not have passed through .the screen g, but reached the upper end of it, are shaken out by the vibrating shoe-rakc i, located there, and further turned over and shaken up by the revolving shoe-rake j,-also operating at that end (if the shoe or riddle, and which operation of the two rakes will be more particularly described hereafter.

7 The blast underneath the riddle or screen 9 passes through the teeth of the rake i, so'that the tailings, dropping from the sieve or screen into the spout 7:, are also subjected to a current or blast and a separation of the lighter particles from the material delivered there.

The tailings glide down the inclined spout It, into the elevator in the trough H, and are carried up by the elevator, and delivered into a tail-spout, shown in red lines in fl". 3, to be re-entered into the machine, and resubjected to the separating and cleaning-operation.

The shoe 0 is vibrated by a pitman, 2, connected to a crank or w'ristwheel, m, which wristwheel is can shaft, 11, that is driven'by gears 0, connecting it with the shaft of the fan D, though, of course, it may be driven from any other moving part or power.

The wrist 1), on the pitman l, I make hollow, as at q,.and an opening, 0', from the exterior, leads into this chamber g, which is filled with oil, or other lubricatingmaterial, through the hole a, which is then closed, and

a drip-hole, s, at the under side of the hollow wrist, supplies the lubricating-material to the journal or wrist-bearing in the crank-wheel m.

The same kind of crank-wheel bearing and wrist may be applied to the tail-spout, to move it, so that it may distribute the failings equally over the cells in 'tappet, e, which works under a bent arm, 10, that extends down to, and works in a slot in an arm, 2:, upon the shaft y, of the reciprocating shoe-rake t, so that the revolving of the slioerakcj imparts a reeiprocatin g or vibrating motion to the shoe-rake 'i.

These rakes are for shaking or raising up, and turning over the straw, so that any grains that may adhere to the straw may be shaken out, and so that the straw may not clog atthat part of the machine.

The journal or wrist p-is secured in its position in the wrist or crank-wheel m by a turreted nut, 2, and a key, 3.

The object of the scalloped or tnrrcted nut 2 is,

substantially as described.

that as the wrist or journal wears, it may be drawn up or taken up by the nut, and the key 3, passing through the. wrist, and, between the turrets of the nut, prevents the nut from becoming loose, and the lengths of the turrets are sufficient to so take up any worn or slack motion until the wrist is entirely worn out, while the key, passing through the same hole, will continue to hold the nut from becoming loose, though it may move up on the thread of the wrist.

I Having thus fully described my invention, and shown how it operates,

What I claim therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The arrangement and location of the secondary fan-blower, in relation to the grain-board b, and the shoe 0, so that the blast from said fan shall strike the grain, chafl', &c., as it falls from said grain-board into i the shoe, or upon the riddles, as and for the purpose described.

2. Also, in combination with the laterally-vibrating shoe, the vertically-reciprocating shoe-rake t, as and for the purpose herein described and represented.

3. Also, in combination with the vibrating shoe and reciprocating shoe-rake, the revolving shoe-rake j, aeting in connection therewith, as and for the purpose W. K. MILLER. \Vitnesses:

WM. MCKINLEY, J r., 

